by Allen French
CHAPTER XVII
ROLF AND FRODI FARE ABROAD
Rolf comes to Frodi where he works in his smithy, there at the head ofHvammfirth. Now the weather is rough, and a strong sea rages among theislands at the mouth of the firth, and the tide-rips are bad. Rolfcomes into the smithy, and Frodi greets him well.
"How went thy suit at the Althing?" asks he.
Then Rolf tells him all, how he was now an outlaw, and how he escaped."And men are out to catch me, for as I came down over the hill, I metone who said that armed men were at the ferry below, waiting forsomeone. Now lend me thy boat, Frodi, that I may cross to Hvamm, andseek passage on that ship which is there outfitting."
"Remain with me overnight," answered Frodi, "for the wind is rough."But Rolf would not stay. "Then," said Frodi, "I will row with thee, tohelp against the wind, and coming back I can row easily alone."
"Thou wouldst thus come into danger for forwarding an outlaw," repliedRolf, and on no account would he suffer Frodi to go. So perforce Frodilent him the boat, and they bade each other God-speed, and Rolf setout.
That was a hard row in the face of the wind, yet Rolf got safely toHvamm. Then, desiring that his enemies should think him dead, he setthe boat adrift, and the oars separately, and saw the waves carry themfrom the shore. Then he went on his way to the ship which was fittingfor the outward voyage; and because it was the law that no shipmastermight refuse passage to an outlaw, Rolf was sure of safety. As he wenthe met a man of Snorri the Priest, and Rolf sent by him a message tohis master: "Forget not thy promise to keep my mother till my return."And so he came to the ship, and was sheltered.
But that boat drifted across the firth, and the wind and tide broughtit again to Frodi's smithy, where it lay and beat upon the beach.Frodi went out and drew it up, and knew it as his own, and believedthat Rolf was drowned. He went back to his smithy, and sat thereweeping.
Then came that way men of Einar's, Hallvard and Hallmund, with OndottCrafty; and seeing they were three, and Frodi so mild of temper, theywent into the smithy to taunt him with the misfortunes of Rolf.Because he wept, they fell to laughing, and asked him: "Why weepestthou, Whittle-Frodi?"
Frodi told them that Rolf was dead. "For he took my boat to row acrossthe firth, and now is the boat come empty to land, without oars orthole-pins."
Then they laughed the more, and taunted him grievously, saying theywere glad at the news, and mocking his weeping. So Hallmund came near,and put his hand on Frodi, calling him a fool. Frodi seized the hand,and rose, and they all saw his face was changed.
"Never in my life," said Frodi, "have I been angry till now!" He drewthe man to him, and snapped the bones of his arm; then he raised himand cast him at Hallvard, so that the two fell, but Ondott remainedstanding.
"Now, Ondott," quoth Frodi, "here is the whittle which once thou badstme draw. Let us see if it will cut!" But when he drew the whittle,Ondott fled, and the others scrambled together out of the smithy.
Then Frodi was afraid of the law, for he thought: "They will make mean outlaw for this assault." So he took his boat, and got new oars andthole-pins. Then he fetched his money from his sleeping loft, andfared across Hvammfirth to that same ship where Rolf was. Great washis joy when he saw Rolf.
"What dost thou here?" asked Rolf.
"I will go with thee," answered Frodi. Then he paid the shipmaster hisfaring, and paid Rolf's also. Two days thereafter they sailed downBroadfirth, and saw Cragness at a little distance. The cairn ofHiarandi was to be seen at the edge of the cliff, but many personswere at work in the field. Rolf knew that his enemies had already setup their household there; but the ship took him, heavy-hearted, eastover the sea.
